Cannon with multiple powder chambers



Dec. 11 1923.

E. RIMAILHO CANNON WITH MULTIPLE POWDER CHAMBERS Filed Feb. 17 1922 5Sheets-Sheet A w/CM aiya

Dec. 11 1923. 1,477,078

E. RIMAILHo CANNON WITH MULTIPLE, POWDER CHAMBERS Filed Feb. 1'7 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1923.

E. RIMAILHo CANNON WITH MULTIPLE POWDER CHAMBERS Filed Feb. 17 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 5 @MQ E TES EMILE RIMAILHO,

eric.

0F PARIS, FRANCE.

CANNON WITH MULTIPLE POWDER CHAMEERS.

Application filed February To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EMILE RIMAILHO, a citizen ofthe Republic of France,and residing at Paris, Seine Department, No. l2 .Rue de laRochefoucauld, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new anduseful Cannon with Multiple Powder Chambers, of which the following is aspecification.

When it is desired to make use of a can-y non of stated length which isprovided with a powder chamber of determined volume, forfiring withdecreasing charges of powder, this decrease is limited by the fact thatat a given ratio the volume of the chamber becomes too great to admitthe combustion of the charge in an eiiicient and regular manner, as thecharge is now too small with respect to this volume.

The present invention relates to a cannon whose barrel has the requisitelength for lono range tiring, even though the socalled normal powderchamber which is situated rearwardly of the bore, has a small size suchas is adapted for tiring the same projectile with charges correspondingto what are used for shorter ranges in a howitzer or shell-gun of thesame caliber.

If this small-sized chamber were used alone it is obvious that theavailable range would be lessl than with a larger chamber in which agreater charge can be used.

To obtain the long range, according to the present invention I providein the breech of the cannon or reenforce, one or more additional ypowderchambers whose axis is in the perpendicular, oblique, or parallelposition with respect to the axis of the normal chamber. The saidchambers communicate with the normal chamber and are closed on the outerside by a plug, or by the breech-biock with an obturation system of theknown type.

The said additional chambers can be employed or not as may be desired,and to effect this they may contain a charge or may be filled up by asuitable inert plug.

A safety device is preferably used so as to prevent firing at thebreech-block of the normal chamber as long as the breechblock of theadditional chamber has not beenclosed. and to prevent opening one of thebreech-blocks of the additional chambers when the breech-block of thenormal chamber is closed and the firing can take place.

17, 1922. Serial N0. 537,285.

The said device comprises for example an arm controlled by thebreech-block ot the normal chamber which allows the additionalbreech-block to be opened only when the first-mentioned breech-block hasbeen opened, and likewise a member controlled by the opening of theadditionl breechblock, which serves to hold the said arm in. theposition for the opening of the normal breech-block as long as theadditional breech-block is not entirely closed, so as to prevent theclosing of the normal breechblock as long as the additional breechblockremains open.

The appended drawing shows by way of example thc use of the deviceaccording to the invention with a cannon having a single additionalchamber.

Fig. l is a lengthwise section on the aXis of the cannon where twochambers are used,` the additional chamber containing a cartridge.

Fig. 2 is a plan view or' the reenforce.

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the same.

Fig. 4- is a cross-section on the line A-A of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a section analogous to Fig. 1 where two chambers are in use,the additional chamber containing a filling plug.

Fig. 6 is a similar View with the additional chamber containing acartridge case.

The cannon l comprises an additional chamber 2, which when the normalchamber 3 is alone employed is Filled up by an inert plug l providedwith a plastic or metallic obturator la; in this manner the volume ofthe filled chamber is not added to the volume of the normal chamber 3,and the arrangement operates as if the said additional chamber were notused.

For long range tiring, the plug 4 ot tbc additional chamber is removed,and for each shot one places in this chamber the propery amount ofpowder 5, the normal chamber receiving a charge in the known manner. Ifthe additional breech-block is provided with a plastic obturator, thecharge may consist of a packet or bag of powder which is placed directlyin the chamber; if the breech-block is of the wedge type, as shown, theadditional charge is well inclosed in a metallic cartridge 6, Fig. 6,acting as an obturator and ejected in the known manner, or consistssimply of a bag 5, the closing being obtained by an obturating bottom 7,Figs. 1 and 4.

The latter arrangement is preferable inasmuch as the dimensions of theadditional cartridge 7 may be such that there will be no confusion withthe cartridge S oi the normal chamber, Fig. 6.

To insure the safety of the elements in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1and 2 in which both chambers are closed by breechblocks of the wedgetype 9 and 10, the breech-block 9 of the normal chamber has an extension11 which is guided by a socket 12 and whereof the upper end 13 iscapable oi holding the lever 14 controlling the breechblock 10 in theextreme closing position by taking a position in front of a stop-piece 15 pertaining vto a lever' 14 adapted to actuate the breech-block 10, insuch manner as to prevent any manipulation of this lever.

In these conditions, the breech-block 1() cannot be opened when thebreech-block 9 is closed.

Inversely, when the breech-block 10 is opened, should i-t be desired toclose the breech-block 9, the extension 11 will come into Contact with asector 1G secured to the lever 14 whereby the closing will be incompleteand it will be impossible to fire the cannon.

Obviously, as above stated, the disposition of the additional chamber incommunication wi-th the normal chamber may assume a variety of forms;Jor example the axis of the additional chamber may be situated in anydesired plane, oblique or perpendicular to the cannon bore, or situatedabove, below or laterally with reference t0 the same.

, Claims:

l. In a cannon adapted for firing with variable charges whilemaintaining a suitable relation between the weight of each charge andthe volume of the chamber containing the same, the combination of anormal powder chamber corresponding to reduced charges, one or moreadditional chambers formed in the reenforce and communicating with thesaid normal chamber, apertures corresponding to the normal chamber andto the additional chambers, breech-blocks closing the said apertures,and inert plugs adapted to close up the said additional chambers whennot in use.

2. In a cannon adapted for firing with va-.

riable charges while maintaining a suitable relation between the weightof each charge and the volume of the chamber containing the same, Ithecombination of a normal powder chamber corresponding to reduced charges,one or more additional chambers formed in the reenforce andcommunicating with the said normal chamber, apertures corresponding tothe normal chamber and to the additional chambers, breech-blocks closingthe said apertures, inert plugs adapted to close up the saidv additionalchambers when not in use, and a firing device for the normal charge.

8. In a cannon adapted for firing with variable charges, thelcombination of a normal powder chamber, one or more additional chamberscommunicating therewith, powder charges disposed in said chambers whichmay be replaced in the additional chambers by inert plugs, and a iiringdevice for the normal charge whose ignition will likewise effect theignition'of the additional charges.

4. In a cannon, adapted for firing with variable charges, thecombination of a normal powder chamber corresponding to reduced charges,one or more additional chambers communicating therewith, breech-blocksserving to close cach of the said chambers respectively, a firing devicemounted in the breech-block of thenormal chamber, means for preventingthe said firing device from operating as long as any one of thebreechblocks of the additional chambers remains open, and inert plugsadapted to replace thc charges in the said additional chambers.

5. In a cannon adapted for firing with variable charges, the combinationof a normal powder chamber corresponding to reduced charges, one or moreadditional chambers communicating therewith, breechblocks serving toclose each of the said chambers respectively, a iring device mounted inthe breech-block of the normal chamber, an arm disposed upon thebreech-block of the normal chamber, elements controlled bythe openingmovement of the said breech-blocks of the additional chambers and cominginto contact with the said arm as long as the said breech-blocks remainopen, and v.inert plugs adapted to replace the charges 1n the saidadditional chambers.

6. In a cannon adapted for iring with variable charges, the combinationof a normal powder chamber corresponding to reduced charges, one or moreadditional chambers communicating therewith, breechblocks serving toclose each of the said chambers respectively, a firing devicer mountedin the breech-block of the normal chamber, an arm disposed upon thevbreech-block of the normal chamber for preventing the opening of thebreech-blocks of the additional chamber as long as the breech-block ofthe normal chamber remains open, elements controlled by the openingmovement of the said breech-blocks oi' the additional chambers andcoming into'contact with the said arm as long as the said breech-blocksremain open, and inert plugs adapted to replace the charges in the saidadditional chambers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname.

EMILE RIMAILHO.

